RINGSIDE TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 20943, 6 November 1931, Page 5

RINGSIDE TOPICS

LATEST FISTIC FLASHES

[By Hooker.]

FIXTURES. November 7.—Tommy Fairhall v. Ted Alorgan, at Town Hall. November 11.—Thomas v. Oxley, at Palmerston North. November 16.—Reg. TroAvern v. Bobby Delaney, at Wellington. November 19.—Alan Campbell v. Jack O’Alalley, at Timaru.

To-morrow night Dunedin fistic followers will Avitness their first professional contest since Johnny Leckio and Joey Thomas met here many months ago, and the return bout betAveen Tommy Fairhall and Ted Alorgan at the Town Hall is creating a considerable amount of interest. Alorgan has expressed himself as being very dissatisfied Avith the referee’s action at Timaru in stopping the contest in the sixth round, as ho reckoned he Avas perfectly able to continue, and claimed that ho Avas avcll ahead on points at tho time.

Be that as it may, EairhaU's victory goes down on the record books as being scored by a technical knockout, and now Morgan has tho chance to wipe that stain off his record. Fairhall may not be the same fast, hard-hitting gloveman lie was when ho scored such a sensational win against Eugene Volaire here a few years ago, or when he triumphed over that classy lightweight, Les. Murray, but the fact remains that lie is still a very shrewd ring man, ami one who still packs a hefty punch, so that Morgan can afford to take no chances. Morgan is a rather contradictory fighter. He has shown the form of a champion at times, ami on other occasions he has fought well below championship form. In Dunedin lie beat Steve Hughes and Billy Grime, and then made an unimpressive showing before being knocked out by Wally Hancock. This writer lias seen a good deal of the Wellington fighter, both as an amateur and as a professional, and has no hesitation in saying that hr did not show his true form that night. Since then, lie lias acquired further experience in America, ami is non- the holder of the New Zealand welterweight title. The ex-Olympic champion has tho chance to prove his worth tomorrow night, and a win over Fairhall would put him well in the boom, especially now that Delaney and Thorntou are seeking lights in the dominion.Pairhall is the former Australian welter-weight champion, and is reckoned one of tho best figlitiim men to come this way. There" should be plenty of action in the forthcoming inill, and while iairhall’s chances may be most favoured, Morgan is just the type of gloveman to upset calculations. Johnny Leckic has joined the select ranks of those champions who have lost_ their titles and won them back again. A present-day instance of such a happening lias been given by Young Jack Thompson, who lost Jiis welterweight championship of the world to Tommy freeman, won it back again, and recently lost it to Lon Brouillard. Tony Cuimoneri, present light-weight champion of tho world, lost tho featherweight title to Andre Rontis, and then wont on to. win fame as a, light-weight. After Lectio lost tho title to Donovan ho blossomed out as a light-weight, hut the writer has always maintained that Johnny has fought host under tho 9st limit, and so it was proved by his convincing showing against Donovan at New Plymouth on Saturday night. According to _ reports, it was Johnny Lcckio at his fighting best, the Leckio that used to pack the Drill Hall out every time ho fought in Dunedin. Twice Donovan just beat tho count, and in defeat the Taranaki fireman gave a wonderful exhibition of gameness and courage. Loekie has made a definite come-back, and should now have satisfied those critics who reckoned ho was through after his defeat at the hands of Joey Thomas when ho was a sick man._ He should not want for matches, especially if Bobby BJay comet: back this way, and if ho is wise lie will follow tho advice handed out to him a Jong time ago to enter the ring at his lighting weight, under 9st, amd not as a junior light-weight. Tho recent contest was the fifth meeting betAveen Leckio and Donovan, and Leckio lias won tAvice, Donovan once, and tAvo bouts havo been draAvn. _ As amateurs the men met once, Leckio outpointing tho Taranaki boy at tho Noav Zealand championships at Napier. When the pair first met as professionals Loekie won by a knock-out at Napier. It has been reported that there is a prospect now of Leckio being matched Avitli Archie Hughes, Avho recently scored over Donovan.

Norm. Gillespie Avas outpointed recently by a noAVcomer namer Norman Roy at tho Nowloavii Olympia, Sydney. That tho onco front rank light-weight champion has slipped a Jong Avay dmvn the ladder may bo gleaned by the fact that he Avas fighting under a guarantee of £7, and Avas beaten by a mile. The six-round preliminaries at tomorrdAV night’s contest aro attracting quite a lot of attention, and hoav that Groffs, the Ncav Zealand amateur

middleweight champion, has signified his inability to accept the match, G. APEAAan, tho speedy Southlander, has been substituted. M'Ewan lias fought both in the middle and light heavyAveight divisions at the New Zealand championships, and has Avon a Now Zealand title, and it Avas reported recently that he Avas proposing to enter professional ranks. Loavo Avill he Tawing his second fight as a middleweight, and the amateur Avelter-weight champion is likely to be tested to the utmost. M ‘Ewan is a solid and determined fighter, possesses boxing ability, and a punch, and there should be no dull moments in a scrap Avhich Avill attract do-minion-Avido interest in view of LoAve’s recent nomination for the Ncav Zealand Olympic team. Two solid punchers will meet in the other preliminary. 'They are Bert Davis and F. Prendergast. The latter, a Southlander, fared avcll at the Ncav Zealand championships recently until injury brought about his retirement after he had won his first fight, and it AA’ill bo remembered that at tho Otago championships he collected the honours A-ery easily in the middleweight class. He is a fast boxer and a good, clean hitter, and in Davis he will be meeting an opponent Avho certainly packs a punch. Davis won the Otago middleAveight championship on a couple of occasions, but shaped somewhat disappointingly at the New Zealand championships. He lias been out of the game for a spell, but Avon the light-heavy-Aveight title this year without dispute, and is reported to be sliOAving much improved form of late since he started Avorking out Avith Bert Lowe. These men should provide a Avilling mix-up. Boxing classes are being conducted in Queenstown and CrojuAvell by Frank Padget, Avho as Frank Harvey was a Avell-knoAvn Southland boxer a feiv years ago. For some time he acted as assistant to Fritz Holland when the American Avas conducting schools throughout Southland. Afax Schmeling has suffered the ignomony of the knock-out three times, Jack Dempsey once, and Benny Leonard once; so a. fighter isn’t a dud if ho is stopped sometime during his career.

It does seem as though T. Crofts, the NeAv Zealand amateur middleweight champion, is not so anxious to meet Bert Lowe, the Avelter-Avcight titleholder, as ho Avould have one believe. Some time ago Crofts Avas expressing a very keen desire in the north to meet Loavc, and the Otago Boxing Association naturally made every effort to bring the men together. Did Crofts jump at the chanceP He replied stating that ho Avas going to fight under the North Otago Boxing Association. The Otago Association found the Oamaru body Avilling to forego its claims seeing that there Avas a prospect of a return bout at Oamaru. Then Crofts advised that he could not get leave, AA-hich left the local controlling body in a quandary almost at the last moment. lloAvever, At ‘Ewan avus secured for Lowe instead. Still, if Crofts is not prepared to make his challenge good lie should not broadcast it.

Noav that Jack Sharkey has demonstrated that he is ono man Avho can beat Primo Camera, Max Schmeling Avill probably face Sharkey in defence of Schmeling’s Avorld’s heavy-Aveight title (says an overseas Avriter). Sharkey had Primo “ out on his feet ” in the fifteenth and last round of their bout at Ngav York (U.S.A.) last .Monday, and gaA'c Primo a rare biding. Yet the critics say that Mickey Walker heat Sharkey Avhbn tho referee gave a draAV about a month ago in U.S.A. Sharkey Avoighed 14.CJ- to Camera’s 18.9.

Arriving by tho same boat as Be l lanoy, Boh Thornton comes to the dominion seeking contests Avith tiro middles or Avolters (says an exchange). Thornton, aaTio Avon tho midclle-Aveight championship of Australia from Ambrose Palmer some months ago in Melbourne, pAit up a great fight Avhen the pair met in Sydney in a return battle about tAvo months ago, but Avas beaten. The Aussie has come across on his oavu initiatiA-e, having paid his own fare and Avithout any match in view. As ho is right in tho front rank his services should soon be availed of, particularly as Parker, Turner, and Co. Avill no doubt bo keen to havo him on. Considerable dissatisfaction Avith the decision of tho referee (Mr Joe Stewart) in stopping his fight with Tommy Fairhall is expressed by Morgan and Pat Connors (says the Wellington ‘Post’). Connors declares that his boy Avas acting on instructions and preparing to stop down for as long a count as possible Avhen the referee raised Pairhall’s hand in token of victory. Connors says that he Avas astounded at the referee’s action, and Morgan Avas equally surprised. “1 felt Avell and strong,” Morgan told the Avriter, “ and to say that I Avas helpless and nearly a casualty, avgll, that’s ridiculous.” Up to the sixth round, Connors said, Morgan had easily outpointed his man. He had taken the fight to him'all the time, but had difficulty in using his left hand frequently, as Fairhall avas continually claiming it. Nevertheless, tho Wellington boy Avas Avell ahead on points, and Avhen in the sixth round Fairhall half knocked him down and half pulled him doAvn with a wild right sAving Morgan decided to act on his instructions and take his time about getting up. He did so at nine, and Fairhall immediately somersaulted over him, sending him' to the canvas again. This time, Connors maintains, his boy Avas not even hit, and Avhile he Avas motioning to Morgan to stay doAvn the referee ended the affair.

If it is the intention of the authorities to .send Bert Lowe away to the Games, it is advisable that the Dunedin boy he kept in fairly regular work (says the ‘ N.Z. Sportsman’). Thp material is offering, and tho Wellington Boxing Association could do worse than bring Lowe from Dunedin and “ Bunny ” Martin from Auckland and match them in Wellington at some suitable date. Then there is Billy Witbey, who, it is stated, is anxious to have a crack at the New Zealand welter-weight champion. Doubtless those at tho head of affairs realise the importance of keeping a good boxer in regular competitive boxing. Mr Jack Kilmartin, who will officiate in the Fairhall-Morgan contest here tomorrow night as referee, has been asked to act as third man for tho return contest at Timaru between Campbell and O’Malley, but at present lie is uncertain whether he will bo able to accept. The arrival of Ambrose Palmer in Wellington should stimulate interest among the big fellows, and Dunedin Inns are hopeful that the Australian

middle, weight clump ion. will be seen in action here before he leaves for home. Alan Campbell, tho New Zealand heavyweight chanipio<n, has definitely agreed that if ho meets Palmer it will bo under the auspices of the Otago Boxing Association, and it is understood he has signed up to that effect.